Coconut Creek Twitter tourney: Good time had by all, including Frank Alberts

So the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek ran its first-ever "Free Bird" Twitter tournament: The first 300 Twitter followers (@Stax_Poker) were eligible for a free-roll with $1,000 in prize money.

A barrage of $10 rebuys pushed the total pool to $1,310, and about 75 people showed up on Tuesday afternoon to play. (Some were true Twitter followers, others I'm pretty sure just signed up on Twitter for the free roll, including an elderly lady at my table and a guy who at the last minute asked staff if he could borrow a computer.)

Regular Evan Snow made a nice speech thanking the casino for the free-roll and play began.

The poker was as expected for a free roll -- which meant I had a chance. Actually, I pushed all-in at about two hours with about 25 players left, 4,300 chips and 9-10, and got called by a prior raiser who held Q-J suited. But I got my miracle flop J-8-7 for the straight and had a nice run after that, including an almost triple-up when my 7-7 hit a set on the flop.

But after four hours of poker and 11 players still left, most of us wanted to chop, and browbeat the holdouts (very gently, really) and took home about $115 each. The chip leader, Frank Alberts, 20, of Boca Raton, agreed to chop if he got a little more, and took $159 (I just think he should've got a double share). He's been on a great run, he said, which might explain why he was charitable.

He also gets everlasting fame on this blog, and mention of his Twitter handle for you all to follow: @Alberts_Frank.

And, whether you were there or not, I could use the Twitter followers. It's @NickSortal. I'll follow you back, promise.

And Coconut Creek's WPT Series continues to run. Go to SeminoleCoconutCreekCasino.com.